An analysis of genetic and lifestyle data from 10 large epidemiologic studies confirmed that regular use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in most individuals. The study also found that a few individuals with rare genetic variants do not share this benefit.

Bob Hazelton lived with chronic acid reflux for years and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2011. After his surgical team at Massachusetts General Hospital performed a minimally invasive esophagectomy, Bob has a healthy esophagus and is getting back to his active lifestyle.

Kathleen Corey, MD, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Fatty Liver Clinic and co-director of the Mass General Weight Center, discusses the link between obesity and the rise in liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Massachusetts General Hospital, the Broad Institute, and Amgen announced today that they have launched a strategic collaboration to jointly discover and validate new therapeutic targets and develop novel therapies for inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic disorder that affects millions worldwide.

Kathleen Corey, MD, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Fatty Liver Clinic and co-director of the Mass General Weight Center, discusses the connection between obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

MGH researchers have identified a gene variant that helps predict how much weight an individual will lose after gastric bypass surgery, a finding with the potential both to guide treatment planning and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating obesity and related conditions like diabetes.

Changes in the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract may underlie some of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery, reports a team of researchers from MGH and Harvard University. The investigators also found that post-bypass alterations in the microbial population of mice can induce weight loss in animals that did not have surgery.

Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an imaging system enclosed in a capsule about the size of a multivitamin pill that creates detailed, microscopic images of the esophageal wall.

Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center, including clinical trials of new biologic medications, as well new minimally invasive surgical techniques, is helping expand treatment and management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A type of immune cell found in the small intestine plays a previously unsuspected role in monitoring antigens circulating in the bloodstream. Disruption of the newly discovered regulatory system may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies.

David Rattner, MD, chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery at the Mass General Digestive Healthcare Center, answers frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the LINX® Reflux Management System, a new treatment option for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Massachusetts General Hospital introduces an innovative procedure for patients experiencing symptoms of GERD. A bracelet of magnetic beads can help the lower esophageal sphincter to resist gastric pressures and prevent reflux.

Patients seeking care for pancreatic and biliary system disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Digestive Healthcare Center receive the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic treatments from a collaborative team of experts, including gastroenterologists, interventional endoscopists, pathologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and radiation therapists.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that three out of four obese children will become obese adults, increasing the obese adult population to 42 percent by 2030. Just days after the report, on May 10, the MGH Weight Center brought together clinicians from 24 different programs – many within MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) – for the first Pediatric Obesity Collaborative Retreat.

Liver specialists at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center have been studying the tenacious nature of HCV and exploring new approaches for treating this chronic infection. (From Advances Fall 2011 issue.)

Advances Spring 2011 Issue. While sphincter-sparing surgery is fairly common for upper rectal and mid-rectal cancers, it is less common for low rectal cancers, which are more difficult to resect due to anatomical challenges and their proximity to important structures in the pelvis.

Up until the mid-1990s, physicians knew little about the relationship between pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer. But collaborative research conducted by gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center has led to a much greater understanding of pancreatic cystadenomas and what makes some cysts progress to cancer. These advances are opening up new therapies to target this deadly cancer early on, when it is most treatable.

Regular use of aspirin after colorectal cancer diagnosis may reduce the risk of cancer death, report investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

A research consortium based at Massachusetts General Hospital has been awarded $15 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to investigate how the hepatitis C virus resists suppression and clearance by the immune system.

On May 20 David Rattner, MD, chief of General Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center, performed New England’s first natural orifice surgery - completely incision free.

Join Massachusetts General Hospital and MassGeneral for Children medical staff June 27 - 28 in casual, face-to-face discussions on a variety of topics addressing health concerns for people of every age.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers are investigating a new way to block reproduction of the hepatitis C virus – targeting not the virus itself but the human genes the virus exploits in its life cycle.

Finally, good news for patients who have chosen not to have surgery to treat their gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because they doubted surgery’s effectiveness. A new study reveals the benefits of a simple procedure that can vastly improve their quality of life. And, even better, the relief offered by this surgery is lasting and doesn’t require the hassle and expense of taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and other prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The third oldest general hospital in the United States and the oldest and largest hospital in New England, Mass General continues its tradition of excellence today. The hospital is consistently ranked among the top five hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In 2008, Mass General was redesignated a Magnet hospital, the highest honor for nursing excellence awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Aspirin therapy's ability to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, an association seen in a large number of studies, appears to depend on the drug's inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme, the action that also underlies aspirin's usefulness for treating pain and inflammation.

12/06/2012: Liver Center News

A New Era of Hepatitis C TherapyLiver Center News, the Massachusetts General Hospital Liver Center e-newsletter, is produced by liver specialists for their clinical peers who treat patients with liver disease.

01/01/2011: Advances at Mass General

01/01/2011: Mass General Magazine

Read more at www.massgeneralmag.orgMass General Magazine is a publication for supporters and friends of Massachusetts General Hospital that takes you inside the hospital and explores its patient care and research programs here and around the world. It features rich photo essays and in-depth profiles from across the Mass General world.

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Christopher Morse, MD, reviews minimally invasive treatments for esophageal cancer, including esophageal resections. Please note that this video contains images from a real procedure and may cause discomfort for some viewers.

Vijay Yajnik, MD, gastroenterologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center, explains why inflammatory bowel disease often goes untreated and the promising new therapies that can minimize IBD's impact on daily life.

David Rattner, MD, Co-Chief of the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center describes how chronic heartburn can lead to other serious conditions, who is most at risk and how Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer can be diagnosed and treated.

Liliana G. Bordeianou, MD, a colorectal surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center says incontinence is not just a normal part of getting older and explains the treatments that can dramatically improve your quality of life.

Milena Weinstein, MD, urogynecologist at the Mass General Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology says urinary incontinence or vaginal bulge can be related to pelvic floor disorders, which affect one out of three women. Learn more about the treatments available for pelvic floor disorders, from exercise to support devices to surgery.

The Campaign for the Third Century of MGH Medicine kicked off Oct. 15 at the Westin Waterfront Boston. Nearly 500 of Mass General’s closest friends and supporters gathered to celebrate the public launch of the fundraising campaign that aims to raise $1.5 billion for the hospital. Already, $1 billion of that amount has been raised.

As a burn and critical care fellow at Mass General, Jonathan has worked closely with MGHfC staff. Why is he running to raise money for pediatric cancer care and research? “None of these kids asked for this problem, and neither did their families."

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a specialized endoscopic technique used by gastroenterologists at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center to diagnose and remove large areas of early gastrointestinal cancers.

Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a minimally invasive procedure used by surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital to treat eligible patients experiencing symptoms of achalasia. For more information, visit massgeneral.org/POEM

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a procedure performed by Massachusetts General Hospital surgeons using small incisions to remove a diseased esophagus and reconstruct the gastrointestinal tract. For more information, visit massgeneral.org/MIE